2026 Winter Showcase Series: Shell Shocked: The Discovery of a New Species of Fossil Leatherback Sea Turtle from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama

As part of the 2026 Winter Showcase Series presented by Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, please join us for this presentation from Dr. Andrew Gentry.

Shell Shocked: The Discovery of a New Species of Fossil Leatherback Sea Turtle from the Gulf Coastal Plain of Alabama

Dr. Andrew Gentry is the Senior Education & Research Manager for the Learning Campus at Gulf State Park. Prior to joining the Learning Campus, Dr. Gentry was a Biology Instructor for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Professor of Biology at the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile, Alabama, where he taught courses in biology, ecology, anatomy, and genetics while also conducting research in the field of vertebrate paleontology. His scholarly publication record includes formal studies of numerous species of fossil sharks, an extinct tortoise, and four previously unknown species of fossil turtle, all from Alabama.

Dr. Gentry has also excavated fossils from across the coastal plain region of Alabama, including the remains of mosasaurs, whales, and, most recently, the fossilized shell of a never-before-seen species of leatherback sea turtle found in Monroe County, Alabama. Attendees will hear from Dr. Gentry as he tells the story of this remarkable find and the immense undertaking of recovering the massive fossil. Attendees will also learn how this fossil has rewritten our understanding of leatherback sea turtles and how South Alabama’s rich fossil record continues to provide a wealth of insights into the natural history of the Gulf.